She's the girl all the bad guys want - Ace Merrill

Tornado.

I woke up completely naked with nothing but our blanket draped over me. I rolled over and saw an empty space. Strange. I sat up and looked around.

"Ace?"

Nothing.

I sighed as I climbed out of bed and picked up one of his shirts. I slipped it on and did half the buttons up before slowly opening the door.

"Ace?" I said a little louder.

Nothing.

I quickly rushed down the stairs and burst into the living room, much to the surprise of all the cobras there. I could feel their eyes raking over my body as Ace walked back in from the kitchen and smacked Charlie on the head.

"Oi! Eyes off the wife." He said sternly as took a cigarette from Eyeball and lit it, sitting down on his armchair.

He offered me his hand and I stepped closer, taking it and allowing him to pull me down on his lap. Fuzzy coughed slightly as he pulled his eyes away from my bare legs and looked back at Ace, who kept a protective arm around me as he tugged me closer to his lap.

"So what we gonna do about..." he started but his voice trailed off.

Ace offered me the cigarette from his lips and I allowed him to hold it to my lips as I inhaled the smoke.

"Nothing, he ain't gonna do anything." Ace answered as I felt eyes still on me.

"Who?" I asked, breathing the smoke out.

"Who'd you think sweetheart?" Eyeball said as he lit his own cigarette and leant back on the sofa he was flopped on.

"Steven?" I turned and asked Ace.

He nodded and quickly finished the cigarette.

"Yeah but as I said he ain't gonna do anything."

"That's not what he said yesterday." Billy mumbled.

Ace flicked his cigarette butt at Billy.

"He ain't gonna touch me now. You heard this ones dad." He said bouncing his knee making me bounce slightly.

The others nodded slightly as Charlie stood up and put the radio on. I leant back into Ace as I felt his fingers trace little shapes on my bare legs as the music filled the room. The other boys spoke in mumbles to each other as I turned slightly and nuzzled my head into Ace's neck. His grip tightened as I felt his lips on my forehead.

"Yo yo listen to that." Charlie broke the silence as he jumped up and turned the sound up on the radio.

A newscaster was issuing a tornado warning for all of Oregon. All of us leant in closer as they spoke of warning signs and suggested people gathered supplies and stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. Ace gently pushed me up as he stood up to face the boys.

"We got this boys. Lemme guess we gotta babysit your asses?" He asked with a smirk.

They all laughed and gently nudged each other as I turned to Ace.

"I need to go see my parents. We can quickly grab my stuff and be back before it hits."

He shook his head.

"No way Princess you're arse is staying right here."

I grabbed his arm and yanked slightly.

"Ace I'll be quick. It's not due till later and it won't take me long at all and that way I can make sure they're safe too."

"What part of no way did you not understand?" He asked, anger rising in his voice.

"And what part of they're my parents did you not understand?" I snapped back, stepping closer.

Our faces were millimetres apart and I grit my teeth together. I wasn't going to back down or I'd spend my entire marriage backing down.

"Woah woah let's cool it Mr and Mrs shall we?" Eyeball said as he quickly jumped up and placed a hand on each of us, slowly pushing us apart.

"What if I went with her? Helped her grab her shit and drove back?" He offered to Ace.

Ace growled slightly as we all stood in silence awaiting his answer.

"Come on Ace.." he encouraged. "You can sort shit out here and she'll have me to keep her safe."

Charlie stood up and appeared at the other side of us and placed a hand on both of us, seeing neither of us were backing down.

"I'll go with 'em too Ace. Sort your in-laws out while they pack." He offered.

I kept my eyes locked on Ace's, glaring at him just as hard as he was glaring at me. Until he eventually slowly began to soften.

"Fine. But you're back in 2 hours. No longer." He grumbled.

I pushed Eyeball and Charlie to the side and leant up giving him a gentle kiss.

"We'll be back in no time. " I promised as I took off upstairs.

I quickly changed back into my wedding dress as I had no other clothes, slipped on my shoes and found an old bandana Ace had and used it to tie my hair up into a ponytail before rushing back down the stairs as Ace was giving all the boys orders and giving his usual protective speech to Charlie and Eyeball.

They all turned when I came back in and Eyeball leapt forward grabbing his keys in one hand and taking mine in the other as the three of us rushed outside to the cars. The wind had picked up already as we leapt into his car, Charlie in the back. Eyeball quickly sped off in the direction of the View.

We watched as people ran out everywhere, men were putting wooden boards over windows and trying to usher all the children inside with their mother's as shop signs flew off their hooks and landed in the street.

"EYEBALL STOP!" I screamed as he quickly slammed on the brakes.

Without thinking or listening to his and Charlie's shouts I leapt out of the car and ran towards the 2 boys I could spot a mile off. Chris was lying on the floor screaming in pain as his leg was trapped under a utility pole that had fallen with Gordie desperately trying to pull it off him.

I fell to my knees as the wind blew around us and instantly began trying to help Gordie. Eyeball and Charlie were soon at my side, knowing no-one else on the street would stop to help the Chambers kid or the unwanted Lachance boy, but this was Eyeballs brother.

With their help we soon got the pole off Chris as Eyeball tugged him free. I grabbed Gordies face in my hands.

"Where's Vern and Teddy?" I screamed over the wind as I noticed Eyeball scoop his brother up and carry him to the car.

"Teddy went to go get Vern! He was heading for the treehouse!" He shouted back

"In a tornado?!" I shouted as I yanked Gordie off the floor and began shoving him towards the car. No way was I letting him suffer alone.

I yanked on Charlie's arm, getting his attention.

"Get Chris and Gordie to Ace's! I'm going to get Vern and Teddy! meet me at their treehouse!" I shouted as he grabbed me and held me down as another sign came flying past.

Charlie instantly began shouting back but I ignored it as I shoved him off me and took off running, dodging flying objects and barely able to make out people's screams. My dress flew everywhere as I ran hard. I had to make sure they were okay.